Press for uninterrupted filling of stack forming wagons

ABSTRACT

In the stacking of hay or other crops, a windrow or swath is lifted off the ground, fed into a pile collected by a vehiclesupported, stack forming body and the pile compressed from time to time in the body, all in a continuous operation as the vehicle is advanced across the field, by virtue of the provision of an accumulator which receives the crop while the pile is being compressed, and from which accumulator the crop so accumulated is thereupon dumped onto the compressed pile by retraction of a shiftable section of the press roof.

U it? States Patent 1 [111 3fi33fi Garrison [451 May 22, 1973 PRESS FOR UNINTERRUPTED Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene FILLING OF STACK FORMING Assistant Examiner-J. A. Oliff W AGQNS Attorney-Schmidt, Johnson, Hovey & Williams [75] Inventor: [gall 12M Keith Garrison, Newton, [57] ABSTRACT Assign: Hesston Corporafion, Hesston In the stacking of hay or other crops, a wmdrow or Kans.

Filed: Dec. 17, 1971 Appl. No.: 209,312

US. Cl. ..56/350, 56/364, 100/215 Int. Cl. ..A0ld 87/00 Field of Search ..56/16.4, 16.6, 350-353,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 197 1 Garrison ..214 522 swath is lifted off the ground, fed into a pile collected by a vehicle-supported, stack forming body and the pile compressed from time to time in the body, all in a continuous operation as the vehicle is advanced across the field, by virtue of the provision of an accumulator which receives the crop while the pile is being compressed, and from which accumulator the crop so accumulated is thereupon dumped onto the compressed pile by retraction of a shiftable section of the press roof.

22 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTE m 2 2 I915 SHEET 2 OF 3 WHIHHHWW lllllll! HIWHIIM' PATENTED MAY 2 2 I975 SHEET 3 OF 3 PRESS FOR UNINTERRUPTED FILLING OF STACK FORMING WAGONS This invention is related to co-pending applications Ser. No. 876,944 filed Nov. 14, 1969; Ser. No. 82,900 filed Oct. 22, 1970; and Ser. No. 139,391 filed May 3,

inventions disclosed in said applications and in my US. Letters Patent No. 3,556,327 issued Jan. 19, 1971, entitled Loose Hay Wagon.

The most important object of the present invention is to provide, through use of a press roof having a retractable accumulator section and an extensible backstop, for periodic compression of a crop within a vehicle-supported, stack forming body without interrupting the flow of the crop as the vehicle travels across the field and continuously picks the crop off the ground.

Another important object of my present invention is to provide for crop accumulation upon one section of the press roof while pressing takes place such that the crop so accumulated may be easily and quickly discharged to the stack being formed in the body after each pressing operation by retraction of such roof section, and the feeding into the body thereupon continued without stopping or slowdown.

Still another important object of the instant invention is to provide a hollow accumulating structure whose bottom becomes part of the press, functioning both to compress the pile and receive the crop during the pressing operation, permitting continuous feeding, pressing and accumulation in a sequence which will not only compress each accumulation into the stack after its discharge, but properly compress additional collections into the stack after each such discharge.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a way to introduce a backstop into the sequence such as to prevent feeding of the crop into the body below the press roof during each pressing operation.

A still further object of my instant invention is to incorporate the accumulator bottom and the backstop into the press in such manner as to be actuated thereby and, therefore, as to be synchronized in proper sequence, substantially reducing operator work and attention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a stack forming wagon embodying a press for uninterrupted feeding made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the opposite side of the press, but showing its shiftable roof section within the accumulator structure, parts being broken away for clearness;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, essentially cross-sectional 1971, and has an important object to improve upon the view, still further enlarged, similar to FIG. 2, taken vertically and longitudinally, but showing the press down and the backstop extended;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, transverse cross-sectional view looking rearwardly, showing the press up and the backstop contracted;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the press down and the backstop extended;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 but showing the press down, the accumulator structure down and the backstop contracted;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, detailed crosssectional view still further enlarged taken through one side edge of the backstop;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the details shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but looking forwardly;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, horizontal, detailed crosssectional view through a portion of that side wall of the stack forming body visible in FIG. 9 showing one of the latches for holding the accumulator structure elevated;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the side wall shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, illustrating said latch; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line l212 of FIG. 9.

The stacking machine illustrated in the drawings includes a wheeled vehicle 14 which carries a crop feeder 16 at its forwardmost end and supports a hollow, open, top stack forming body 18 for receiving the crop from the feeder 16. A vertically reciprocable, open bottom press 20, carried by the body 18, has a crowned roof 22 for compacting the crop received by the body 18. A hollow structure 24 is also carried by the body 18 for accumulating the crop emanating from the feeder 16 during compaction. The roof 22 has arear section 26 and a from section 28, the latter of which is shiftable horizontally to one position (FIG. 3) forming a bottom for the structure 24, disposed to receive the crop from the feeder 16 during compaction, and to another position (FIG. 1) overlying the section 26 for discharging the accumulated crop into the body 18 after compaction.

The crop emanating from a spout 30 of the feeder 16 is projected rearwardly with considerable force, and in the event that such type of feeder 16 is employed, a backstop 32 may be provided. The backstop 32 is contractible to its compact condition shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 during ascent of the press 20, and extensible to its stretched out position shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 9 during descent of the press 20 such that the backstop 32 is disposed to limit the extent of rearward movement of the crop emanating from the feeder 16 during compaction.

Side walls 34, 36; 38, 40; and 42,44 are provided for the body 18, the press 20 and the structure 24 respectively. The walls 38 and 40 of the press 20 reciprocate between the walls 34 and 36 of the body 18 and between the walls 42 and 44 of the structure 24. The walls 42 and 44 of the structure 24 normally extend upwardly beyond the corresponding walls 34 and 36 of the body 18 adjacent the spout 30 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. In effect then, the walls 42 and 44 constitute upward extensions of the walls 34'and 36 at one end of the latter. The rear section 26 of the roof 22 rigidly joins the side walls 38 and 40 of the press 20, and the front section 28 of the roof 22 overlies the rear section 26 (as shown in FIG. 1 and by dotted lines in FIG. 3) when the section 28 is in a position for discharging the accumulated crop from the structure 24 into the body Elongated tracks 46 rigid to the side walls 38 and 40- of the assembly 50 joins with the forwardmost end of the section 28 thereabove at its peak as seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4-6 and by dotted lines in FIG. 3.

A chassis 56 of the vehicle 14 has a pair of spaced fluid pressure piston and cylinder units 58 connected thereto, extending upwardly along each of the sidewalls 34 and 36 respectively and connected with L-shaped bridges 60 that are rigidto the tracks 46 and extended outwardly over the upper edges of the walls 34 and 36.

The structure 24 has a crowned top wall 62 joining its side walls 42 and 44 and extending forwardly from the upper, rear end of the backstop 32. Top wall 62 serves to deflect the crop downwardly as it emanates from the spout 30 during lowering of the press 20 and also when the roof section 28 is retracted as in FIG. 1, although the operator may, if desired, return the section 28 to its position beneath wall 62 after press 20 is raised. Vertical slots 64 in the side walls 42 and 44 extend upwardly into the top wall 62 for clearing the two forwardmost bridges 60 during actuation of the units 58 to reciprocate the press 20.

The backstop 32 comprises a plurality of transversely V-shaped panels, including a panel 66 that is uppermost when the backstop 32 is extended and inclined as in FIGS. 3, and 9, a lowermost panel 68 and an intermediate panel 70 which is slidable relative to panels 66 and 68. The lower corners of the panel 68 are pivotally connected to upstanding cars 72 on tracks 46 whereas the upper corners of the panel 66 are pivotally connected to upstanding ears 74 on the upper edges of the walls 42 and 44 adjacent the rearmost end of the top wall 62.

The side edges of the panels 66, 68 and 70 are curled upwardly as shown best in FIG. 7 to present relatively telescoped, interlocking loops broadly designated 76 adapted to slide relatively during reciprocation of the press 20. Lateral lugs 78 are provided on each of the loops 76 of the panel 66 and lateral lugs 80 are provided on each of the loops 76 of the panel 70. Stops 82 on the panel 70 are engageable with the lugs 78 and stops 84 on the panel 68 are engageable with the lugs 80, all as shown best in FIGS. 7-9.

The structure 24 is held in its upper position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 by a pair of latches 86 (FIGS. 1, l0 and 11) swingably mounted on each of the side walls 34 and 36 of the body 18, the latches 86 being releasable for lowering of the structure 24 to the position shown in FIG. 6. The latches 86 normally underlie flanges 88 extending throughout the length of the lower edges of the walls 42 and 44. Each pair of latches 86 is pivotally interconnected by a link 90 and each link 90 has a spring 92 for yieldably holding the latches 86 swung outwardly as shown by full lines in FIG. 10. Cables 94 connected with the links 90 permit manual retraction, and therefore, release of the latches 86 from beneath the flanges 88 against the action of the springs 92 to the position shown by dotted lines in FIG. 10.

Prior to release of latches 86 the structure 24 is raised slightly to take the weight of the structure 24 off the latches 86 by actuation of units 58 to raise the press 20. This raises the tracks 46 into engagement with the top 62 to suspend the structure 24 from the press 20. Hence, upon release of the latches 86, lowering of the press 20 lowers the structure 24 for over-the-road travel. Brackets 95 on the side walls 34 and 36 overlap the side walls 42 and 44 to guide the latter in their vertically reciprocable movement. Manifestly, the backstop 32 contracts to a horizontal position between the rear roof section 26 and the top wall 62, regardless of the position of the roof section 28, during such lowering of the press 20 and the structure 24.

OPERATION The vehicle 14 may be self propelled or, as shown, in the nature of a tractor drawn trailer with the feeder 16 operating to receive w-indrowed crops as the vehicle 14 is continuously advanced across a field. The feeder 16 as illustrated is the same as disclosed in Ser. No. 82,900 aforementioned, but for the purposes of the present invention, may be of any desired type, e.g., the crop pickup and feeding assembly of U.S. Pat. No. 3,556,327 above referred to.

Suffice it to point out, therefore, that the feeder 16 has a vaned rotor within a housing 96 carried by the chassis 56, capable, when driven from the power takeoff of the tractor, of picking up the crop of the window and creating sufficient air movement to continuously project the crop upwardly through a conduit 98 and thence rearwardly from the spout 30 between the walls 38 and 40, below the wall 62 and into the body 18. The front ends of the press 20 and the structure 24 are fully open, but the press 20 may be provided with a smaller inlet to receive the crop from the spout 30. Inasmuch as this operation may be the same as disclosed in said U.S. Pat. No. 3,556,327, showing an embodiment capable of functioning in this manner, said patent is incorporated herein by reference as need be, and made a part hereof for a full understanding of the present invention.

As in U.S. Pat. No. 3,556,327, the crop collected in the body 18 may be compressed from time to time therein to produce a compact stack of self-sustaining nature when subsequently unloaded from the body 18. After a pile is collected, which may rise as high as the roof 22, or nearly so, the operator causes actuation of the assembly 50 to place the front roof section 28 below the top wall 62, without stopping the advancement of the vehicle 14 or the flow of the crop through the spout 30.

He then causes units 58 to be actuated to lower the press 20, brining the roof 22 into engagement with the crop collected in the body 18 and piled between the walls 38, 40 and the walls 42, 44. As soon as roof section 28 drops below the spout 30, the crop emanating from the latter accumulates on top of the roof section 28 and is blown between walls 42 and 44 toward the backstop 32, the latter of which gradually unfolds as the press 20 descends.

After compaction is complete, the press 20 is again raised, and as the press 20 starts to rise the roof section 28 is returned to a position disposed above the roof section 26 as shown in FIG. 1, causing the accumulation within the structure 24 to be discharged onto the compacted pile in the body 18.

Thereupon, in a still continuous operation, the crop is again blown into the body 18 upon the compacted pile and upon the discharged accumulation because the backstop 32 will have become fully contracted out of the way of the incoming crop by the time the press 20 reaches the upper position shown in FIG. 1. The compacting operation and refilling cycle may be repeated as often as desired or needed until a fully loaded, complete stack is formed in the body 18.

The stack may then be either unloaded in the field or transported to any other desired location, whereupon tail gates 100 and 102 on press and body 18 respectively are opened, as in the pending applications aforementioned, or otherwise, and the stack discharged from the rear open end of the body 18. Here again, reference may be made to US. Pat. No. 3,556,327 for an understanding of one suitable way of carrying out the unloading operation which of itself, as in the case of pickup and loading operations, forms no part of the present invention.

The salient features are directed, therefore, to the accumulator structure 24 and its operative association with the press 20. These features include the dual function of the roof section 28 of the press 20, serving as a bottom for the structure 24 during pressing and at the same time, cooperating with the roof section 26 to compress the crop; the function of the backstop 32, cooperating with the walls 40, 42 and 62 and with the section 28 to receive and contain the crop during compaction; the retractable nature of the section 28 to discharge the contents of the structure 24 into the body 18 after each pressing operation; the movement of the backstop 32 out of the way after each pressing operation; the manner in which operation of the press 20 actuates the backstop 32; the releasability of the structure 24 for descent to a lowered position for over-the-road travel; the manner in which the press 20 raises and lowers the structure 24; and the way in which the sections 26 and 28, the top 62 and the backstop 32 are all arched and mated to give the compact stack a proper configuration.

Thus, the continuous operation above stressed is made possible by simply sectionalizing the roof 22, mounting the walls 40, 42 and 62 on the body 18, and connecting the backstop 32 between the press 20 and the side walls 40 and 42. Delays incident to stopping in the field to carry out each pressing step are entirely eliminated. The particular type of slide panel backstop 32 above described is for illustrative purposes only. Any shiftable, collapsible, foldable or other construction may be used provided only that it is in proper position while the press 20 is being lowered and capable of permitting the press 20 to be raised after each pressing operation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a stacking machine:

a hollow, open top stack forming body having a pair of side walls provided with upward extensions at one of their ends;

a vertically reciprocable, open bottom press carried by the body and provided with side walls within the body disposed along said side walls of the latter and between said extensions,

said press having a roof between its side walls; and

a continuous feeder for directing a crop into the body between said side walls of the press below the roof when the press is up, and for directing the crop between the extensions above the roof while the press is being lowered,

said roof having a section retractable to a position while the press is being raised for discharging into the body the crop accumulating thereon while the press is being lowered.

2. In a stacking machine as claimed in claim 1; and

a backstop interconnecting the press and the extensions and movable to a position during lowering of the press for limiting the crop emanating from the feeder to movement onto said section while the press is being lowered.

'3. In a stacking machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein said backstop is collapsible as the press is raised.

4. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said extensions are shiftable vertically to a lowered position alongside said side walls of the body.

5. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 4; and releasable means for holding said extensions elevated.

6. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 4, said press having means for raising and lowering said extensions.

7. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 1; and a top wall joining said extensions for downward deflection of the crop emanating from said feeder.

8. 'A stacking machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein said extensions and said top wall are shiftable vertically to a lowered position disposing the extensions alongside said side walls of the body.

9. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 8; and releasable latch means for holding the extensions and the top wall elevated.

10. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 9, said top wall being carried by the side walls of the press upon release of said latch means, rendering the press operable to raise and lower the extensions and the top wall.

11. In a stacking machine:

a crop feeder;

a hollow, open, top stack forming body for receiving the crop from said feeder;

a vertically reciprocable, open bottom press carried by the body and provided with a roof for compacting the crop received by said body; and

a hollow structure carried by the body for accumulating the crop emanating from the feeder during compaction,

said roof having a section shiftable to one position forming a bottom for said structure disposed to receive the crop from the feeder during compaction, and to another position for discharging the accumulated crop into the body after compaction.

12. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 11 wherein said body, said press and said structure are each provided with a pair of spaced side walls, the side walls of the press being reciprocable between the side walls of the body and between the side walls of said structure, the side walls of said structure normally extending upwardly beyond the corresponding side walls of the body adjacent said feeder.

13. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 12 wherein said roof has a rear section rigidly joining the side walls of the press, and wherein said shiftable section overlies the rear section when the shiftable section is in said position for discharging the accumulated crop.

14. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 11 wherein said press is provided with a pair of spaced side walls each having an elongated, longitudinally extending track, said shiftable section being carried by said interconnecting the sections for reciprocating the shiftable section.

16. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 11 wherein said press is provided with a pair of spaced side walls and wherein is provided means connected with said side walls for reciprocating the press.

17. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 11, said structure having a backstop disposed to limit the extent of movement of the crop emanating from the feeder during compaction.

18. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 17 wherein said backstop'is extensible during descent of the press and contractible during ascent of the press.

19. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 18 wherein said press and said structure are each provided with a pair of sidewalls, each side wall of the press having an elongated, longitudinally extending track, said shiftable section being carried by said tracks for horizontal reciprocation therealong, said backstop having one end thereof pivotally connected with said tracks and the opposite end thereof pivotally connected with said side walls of said structure.

20 A stacking machine as claimed in claim 19 wherein said backstop comprises a plurality of panels interposed between said pivotal connections thereof and includingan intermediate panel slidable relative to the panels proximal thereto.

21. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 20 wherein said roof has a rear section rigidly joining the side walls of the press, wherein said side walls of said structure have a top wall rigidly interconnecting the same, and wherein said backstop is interposed between said rear section and said top wall.

22. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 21 wherein the backstop is disposed horizontally above the side walls of said structure when the backstop is contracted and disposed on an incline between the side walls of said structure when the backstop is extended. 

1. In a stacking machine: a hollow, open top stack forming body having a pair of side walls provided with upward extensions at one of their ends; a vertically reciprocable, open bottom press carried by the body and provided with side walls within the body disposed along said side walls of the latter and between said extensions, said press having a roof between its side walls; and a continuous feeder for directing a crop into the body between said side walls of the press below the roof when the press is up, and for directing the crop between the extensions above the roof while the press is being lowered, said roof having a section retractable to a position while the press is being raised for discharging into the body the crop accumulating thereon while the press is being lowered.
 2. In a stacking machine as claimed in claim 1; and a backstop interconnecting the press and the extensions and movable to a position during lowering of the press for limiting the crop emanating from the feeder to movement onto said section while the press is being lowered.
 3. In a stacking machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein said backstop is collapsible as the press is raised.
 4. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said extensions are shiftable vertically to a lowered position alongside said side walls of the body.
 5. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 4; and releasable means for holding said extensions elevated.
 6. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 4, said press having means for raising and lowering said extensions.
 7. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 1; and a top wall joining said extensions for downward deflection of the crop emanating from said feeder.
 8. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein said extensions and said top wall are shiftable vertically to a lowered position disposing the extensions alongside said side walls of the body.
 9. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 8; and releasable latch means for holding the extensions and the top wall elevated.
 10. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 9, said top wall being carried by the side walls of the press upon release of said latch means, rendering the press operable to raise and lower the extensions and the top wall.
 11. In a stacking machine: a crop feeder; a hollow, open, top stack forming body for receiving the crop from said feeder; a vertically reciprocable, open bottom press carried by the body and provided with a roof for compacting the crop received by said body; and a hollow structure carried by the body for accumulating the crop emanating from the feeder during compaction, said roof having a section shiftable to one position forming a bottom for said structure disposed to receive the crop from the feeder during compaction, and to another position for discharging the accumulated crop into the body after compaction.
 12. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 11 wherein said body, said press and said structure are each provided with a pair of spaced side walls, the side walls of the press being reciprocable between the side walls of the body and between the side walls of said structure, the side walls of said structure normally extending upwardly beyond the corresponding side walls of the body adjacent said feeder.
 13. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 12 wherein said roof has a rear section rigidly joining the side walls of the press, and wherein said shiftable section overlies the rear section when the shiftable section is in said position for discharging the accumulated crop.
 14. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 11 wherein said press is provided with a pair of spaced side walls each having an elongated, longitudinally extending track, said shiftable section being carried by said tracks for horizontal reciprocation therealong.
 15. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 14 wherein said roof has a rear section rigidly joining the side walls of the press, and wherein is provided means interconnecting the sections for reciprocating the shiftable section.
 16. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 11 wherein said press is provided with a pair of spaced side walls and wherein is provided means connected with said side walls for reciprocating the press.
 17. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 11, said structure having a backstop disposed to limit the extent of movement of the crop emanating from the feeder during compaction.
 18. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 17 wherein said backstop is extensible during descent of the press and contractible during ascent of the press.
 19. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 18 wherein said press and said structure are each provided with a pair of sidewalls, each side wall of the press having an elongated, longitudinally extending track, said shiftable section being carried by said tracks for horizontal reciprocation therealong, said backstop having one end thereof pivotally connected with said tracks and the opposite end thereof pivotally connected with said side walls of said structure. 20 A stacking machine as claimed in claim 19 wherein said backstop comprises a plurality of panels interposed between said pivotal connections thereof and including an intermediate panel slidable relative to the panels proximal thereto.
 21. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 20 wherein said roof has a rear section rigidly joining the side walls of the press, wherein said side walls of said structure have a top wall rigidly interconnecting the same, and wherein said backstop is interposed between said rear section and said top wall.
 22. A stacking machine as claimed in claim 21 wherein the backstop is disposed horizontally above the side walls of said structure when the backstop is contracted and disposed on an incline between the side walls of said structure when the backstop is extended. 